State Aid Law Blog

State Aid Uncovered Blog

In Lexxion’s State Aid Uncovered blog, Prof. Phedon Nicolaides publishes weekly critical analyses of recent State aid judgments and decisions. Each post presents the key points of a court judgment or EU Commission decision, places it in the context of similar case law or practice, assesses the underlying reasoning and highlights any inconsistencies or contradictions.

Guest contributions from other State aid experts will also be published on the blog at irregular intervals to complement the content of the blog posts.

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State Aid Uncovered ×

12. August 2025  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Linked Enterprises through Relationships between Natural Persons
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 63
Introduction A perennial issue facing aid-granting authorities is whether the aid applicants are SMEs. A mis-assessment of the SME status can have dire consequences as demonstrated by a Commission decision in May 2025 concerning State aid granted by Germany to sawmill Abalon Hardwood Hessen [AHH] [SA.24030]. The Commission found the aid to be incompatible with the internal market and ordered […]
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6. October 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Member States Beware: Compliance with the GBER and the SME Criteria has just Become more Difficult
State Aid Blogs - doors 1767564 1920
I am grateful to Péter Staviczky for comments on an earlier draft of this article. I am solely responsible for its contents. The European Commission retains its sole right to assess the compatibility of aid granted on the basis of the GBER. Criteria defined in national law need not be taken into account by the Commission. The SME status has […]
read more
No Comments

State Aid Uncovered ×

12. August 2025  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Linked Enterprises through Relationships between Natural Persons
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 63
Introduction A perennial issue facing aid-granting authorities is whether the aid applicants are SMEs. A mis-assessment of the SME status can have dire consequences as demonstrated by a Commission decision in May 2025 concerning State aid granted by Germany to sawmill Abalon Hardwood Hessen [AHH] [SA.24030]. The Commission found the aid to be incompatible with the internal market and ordered […]
read more
No Comments
6. October 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Member States Beware: Compliance with the GBER and the SME Criteria has just Become more Difficult
State Aid Blogs - doors 1767564 1920
I am grateful to Péter Staviczky for comments on an earlier draft of this article. I am solely responsible for its contents. The European Commission retains its sole right to assess the compatibility of aid granted on the basis of the GBER. Criteria defined in national law need not be taken into account by the Commission. The SME status has […]
read more
No Comments

State Aid Uncovered ×

12. August 2025  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Linked Enterprises through Relationships between Natural Persons
State Aid Blogs - State Aid Uncovered photos 63
Introduction A perennial issue facing aid-granting authorities is whether the aid applicants are SMEs. A mis-assessment of the SME status can have dire consequences as demonstrated by a Commission decision in May 2025 concerning State aid granted by Germany to sawmill Abalon Hardwood Hessen [AHH] [SA.24030]. The Commission found the aid to be incompatible with the internal market and ordered […]
read more
No Comments
6. October 2020  |   State Aid Uncovered by Phedon Nicolaides

Member States Beware: Compliance with the GBER and the SME Criteria has just Become more Difficult
State Aid Blogs - doors 1767564 1920
I am grateful to Péter Staviczky for comments on an earlier draft of this article. I am solely responsible for its contents. The European Commission retains its sole right to assess the compatibility of aid granted on the basis of the GBER. Criteria defined in national law need not be taken into account by the Commission. The SME status has […]
read more
No Comments

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